Zoomanity Group: It's Cool to Visit a Zoo

Do you also love visiting a zoo?

I do. As a child, I enjoyed every zoo visit. It formed part of my treasured memories. I can still remember the zoos I've visited with my family here in the country and even outside the country. Plus, all those educational field trips. Thankful for having experienced it all.

As a mom, I'm glad that my kids got to experience zoo visits too. The first farm-zoo that they got to visit wayback 2009 was Paradizoo! I love how they face lit up (or got scared), how they interact and how curious they became as they saw different animals.

It's good to know that Zoomanity Group gives you ways to experience that coolest zoo adventure with the whole family. They have animal theme parks in the country that brings happiness, educational experiences and amusement with preservation and animal welfare. They provide an environment that lets everyone enjoy as they explore, stay and rediscover the happiness of visiting a zoo. That's really cool!

For your next family adventure, here are 5 Zoomanity Group theme parks worth visiting:

Paradizoo Farm

#throwback Paradizoo 2009

 If you want to enjoy nature while spending leisure time with family and friends, then you must visit Paradizoo Farm in Mendez, Cavite.

They have gardens full of vegetables and floral designs. You can also interact with different animals like llama, camels, miniature horses, ostriches, greyhounds, or labrador retrievers. If you want, you can also ride on a cart drawn by an albino carabao.

It's a place that will give you that "Plant Me Home” experience. You can pick vegetables and flowers from garden plots and bring it home.  You'll really love the beauty of this serene "Paradise."

Hope to visit this place again.


Zoobic Safari

Zoobic Safari is located at the Subic Bay Freeport's Forest Adventure. It is where you can diverse exotic animals roaming in their natural habitat. You'll be glad to see those different habitats in the forest such as streams, grasslands, and terrains.

Source:  Zoomanity Group website

As you visit Zoobic Safari you can look forward to all these -
+ Zoobic Park for that mini-trekking experience and a chance to feed animals like parakeets, bearcats, camels, etc.
+ Savannah: a sanctuary of the wild animals such as ostriches, potbellies, wild boars, and guinea fowls.
+ Serpentarium: an old ammunition bunker that showcases of various species of reptiles like snakes, lizards and turtles
+ Rodent World: to see that collection of rodents and their Mice Surprise area
+ Animal MuZOOeum for their rare collection of real stuffed animals
+ Close Encounter with their Siberian-Bengal tigers
+ Tiger Safari: where you can experience the thrill of being chased by full-grown tigers aboard their customized Safari Jeep
+ Bird Walk Experience where you can feed parakeets or love birds on the palm of your hand
+ Aetas' Trail where you can watch our Native Aeta Brothers' perform a traditional dance presentation
+ Croco loco where you can have the chance to feed the crocodiles


Residence Inn

Source:  Zoomanity Group website

Residence Inn is located at the heart of Tagaytay City. It is famous for its Mini Zoo appreciating love for animals At the center of a round green field is a large stable where you can see the horses.

Residence Inn is the perfect place to unwind especially if you're on a budget. Just seeing the beautiful view of Taal Lake and feeling the cool breeze of Tagaytay are more than enough.

They have a Gazebo restaurant where you can give their famous "Bulalo", "Tawilis" (a fresh water sardine), and "Dynamite" or Chili cheese rolls a try.


Zoocobia Fun Zoo

If you're looking for complete educational and fun experience, then you got to visit Zoocobia Fun Zoo. It is located in the foothills of the extended Clark Freeport Zone.

Source:  Zoomanity Group website

One of its main attractions is the Zooc. It is a gravity car patterned after the luge in Sentosa Resort in Singapore. It runs on a 400 meter track with three hairpin curves. Wow! This is something my kids would love!

You can explore all these areas to complete your ecological experience:
+ Birds of Paradise to have a close encounter with colorful birds.
+ Philippine's Pride to see animals and plants that are endemic in the country.
+ Garden Maze that features various animals’ topiaries.
+ Barn to experience bottle feeding baby farm animals.
+ Menagerie to see their unique collection of stuffed real animals.

Zoocolate Thrills

Zoocolate Thrills is an adventure theme park in Loboc, Bohol. It's where you can take a river cruise to explore Loboc River. They offer animal encounters with ostriches, tigers, and bearcats. You can also enjoy their tram ride, horse/buffalo ride and zip/zing ride. Worth visiting, right?

Source:  Zoomanity Group website

#Cool2Zoo
See, it's really cool to zoo and it's something that I can say all over again!

It's always cool to see animals in their natural settings and even interact with them. Somehow, we can experience a stronger connection to nature, explore our environment and even make new discoveries. We'll get to know the welfare of these animals and see what is being done to protect animals that face extinction.

Be cool and visit a zoo!

Zoomanity Group http://www.zoomanity.com.ph
Twitter @zoomanitygroup

Emergency hotlines and hashtags

#MarioPH #FloodPH

Tropical Storm Mario hits our country!

Several areas in Metro Manila were flooded,  classes and work in government offices were suspended, and some domestic flights got cancelled. Places like Cainta and Marikina were placed under state of calamity.

It is pays to save these emergency hotline numbers and hashtags.

Source: Department of Health Philippines 

Source: Department of Health Philippines 

Stay alert and be prepared for anything. Make sure that you're ready with your emergency kits.

Keep safe everyone!

Buwan ng Wika 2014 activities, costumes and dances

The last week of August is also a celebration of Linggo ng Wika (National Language Month) in my kid's school. It's a week-long event filled with activities such as "Palarong Pinoy," "Kainang Bayan," "Pagbigkas ng Tula, Pagbasa at Sabayang Bigkas," and a lot more. The week culminated with the "Katutubong Sayaw" presentation featuring cultural and folk dances in the Philippines.

My daughter representing the Grade 5 class para sa "Masining na Pagbasa ng Tula".



My son joining the Grade 3 students for their "Awiting Filipino" number, performing the song "Pusong Bato."



The theme for this year's Buwan ng Wika is - Wikang Pambansa: Susi sa Tagumpay, Pagkakailanlan at Pagkakaisa. It's about unity depicted by the spirit of "bayanihan."

The best day is the presentation of different regional dances from our country wearing their Filipino costumes.

My daughter joining the Grade 5 class in their Subli dance performance.






My son joining the Grade 3 class in performing a dance from Capiz city.



There's my niece in the same dance performance.




My godson joining the Grade 1 class, looking cute in their costumes while performing an Igorot dance.




There's my sister with the Grade 8 class in their Maglalatik dance.




Here are the other dances from different Grade levels.

The Grade 2 students in their Karatong Subli dance.



Grade 4 students presenting a dance from the Ilocos region.



Grade 6 students in their Muslim dance.




Grade 7 students presenting a rice harvest dance.



Grade 8 students in their regional dance (just forgot where the dance is from)




Grade 10 students presenting their Pandanggo sa Ilaw dance.



The celebration ended with students singing the song "Isang Lahi, Isang Dugo, Isang Musika"




The Philippines has rich culture and history. This school event makes the students proud of the Filipino language and appreciate our country's culture.

As what the theme said, "Filipino as the language of national unity."

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My 2011 post on Linggo ng Wika Costumes and Activities is one of my most popular blog post since parents are looking for Filipino costumes that their children can wear. Thanks for those who visited. Hope you got something from checking out my post. :)

Anyway, by October, it would be the United Nations Celebration. Let's look forward to another eventful school activity!

Total Girl mom to the rescue

I was asked to share my input for the August 2014 issue of Total Girl magazine. I'm a TG Mom to the Rescue!

August 2014 cover Janella Salvador

The tween's problem about home-school:

I've been home-schooled my whole life.I tell my parents that I still want to be home-schooled to make them happy, but the truth is that I'm actually not. I want to tell my parents that I want to go to a regular school for a change and enroll in the school of my choice, but I'm afraid that they'll get mad at me. How do I deal?

Dear troubled teen, hope my advice helped you :)

My short advise:

I encourage you to be honest and talk with them. Discuss but never argue. Tell them that you're grateful for being home-schooled. Let them know how you feel, what your concerns are or what you want to experience.
Communication usually leads to better discovery. You'll never know unless you voice it out. Still, whatever decision your family makes, keep an open mind. If they say “No”, accept it. Stay positive with hopes that they'll think about it and reconsider soon. Keep the faith! - TG Mom Czaroma

Here's the TG to the Rescue page:

Teens (and mommies with teens), if you are facing a tough situation at home, in school or with your friends, you can tell Total Girl magazine about it. Just send an email at helpTG@totalgirl.com.ph

You can get real advice from TG expert, TG ate, TG pal, TG mom and TG dad. They'll hear your problems and share some advice too.

Isn't that cool?

First artisan chocolate experience with Villa Del Conte

I am a chocoholic! My sweet tooth can't live without it.

Every time I see luxurious chocolate brands, I know I'll get to taste it real soon. It turned to be true. With luck, I won from Villa Del Conte's Facebook page. I got a Villa Del Conte Grande box filled with assortment of praline sticks and praline balls with different fillings.

Why I Love Chocolates?
My life is chocolate-enriched!
Chocolates awaken my senses, boost my spirit and ignite my mind.
Giving magical bliss and delight to my heart.
Chocolates are my healthiest indulgence!
The vitamins that my soul and my body needs. 
Making my day delicious, my night heavenly and my life perfectly sweet.
- Czaroma Roman, winning answer :)

Wow! These Villa Del Conte's cioccolato are authentic artisan chocolates from Padova, Italy. Now, I'll get to taste these without even going to Italy.

Claimed my box at Shangri-la Plaza Mall.

Thank you Villa Del Conte!

My box of sweet treats in its elegant packaging. So beautiful and classy, making it perfect for gift-giving.

Grande box 500 g Php 1680

I didn't wait to get home to open my treasure.

I opened my box and saw these wrapped goodies that looked like jewels. They handed me a catalogue to know more about Villa Del Conte and see what's inside each wrapper, but I choose the excitement of not knowing what I'll get.

Praline balls and Praline sticks

I love my Villa Conte chocolate treat!

I find the Pralines Balls truly amazing for its luscious chocolate taste. The Praline balls come in dark and milk chocolate with hazelnut, macadamia cream, caramel cream, cacao cream and coffee cream fillings.

I enjoyed the refreshing uniqueness of the Praline Sticks. It makes me love fruity-filled chocolates, which I'm not usually fond of. The Praline sticks comes with orange cream, strawberry cream, watermelon cream, banana cream, mint cream and blueberry cream fillings.

Each bite is filled with sumptuous flavors with a melt-in-your-mouth goodness. They are indeed chocolatey and have an exceptionally rich and decadent texture. It truly gives me that happiness-in-a-bite-feeling!

Even my family take pleasure in tasting these authentic Italian chocolates. That's my best way of eating chocolates - sharing it with everyone.

Thank you Villa Del Conte for that first truly exquisite and authentic Cioccolato experience.

"May your life be dipped in chocolate." - Villa Del Conte blessing

Grab a Villa Del Conte ciocollato and get a taste of Italy - and heaven in every bite!

Villa Del Conte
Shangri-la Plaza Mall

Books For Less Warehouse Sale

I always have a blast going to warehouse book sales!

This time, my sister and I decided to check out Books For Less Warehouse Sale.

Whooaa we can't believe that almost all books are 10 pesos each!

Books of all kinds - novels, papebacks, reference books, atlas, fiction, non-fiction, etc. are all over the place. I don't mind the dusty place since it's a treasure trove.

This is like the best kind of ukay-ukay for books. Hunting for bargains is such a thrill. I know that bookworms, book hunters, bibliophiles and bibliogeeks would agree with me, right?

book haven! where will you start?

checking out the fiction titles (credits to my sister for all the pics) 

look at those piles of children's books 

My sister and I spent more than an hour picking out books for our kids. The place is happiness!

filling our boxes with books

Here's our book haul. I got all these books for only 340 pesos!

love all these :)

My sister got 40 books and spent only 400 pesos! Such a good deal.

my nephew will enjoy all these :)

It's a 1-month long warehouse sale that runs until August 31, so I'm definitely going back for more. I know my sisters and kids would tag along. Buti na lang, the warehouse is less than 15 minutes away (without traffic) from where we live.

So, see you at the warehouse! This book bargain is something you don't want to miss!

We were told that they replenish books daily, so you can always get to have great finds everyday.

#booksforless

The warehouse is located in Mercedes Avenue, Pasig City. It is just right after Robinsons Supermarket and East Raya Condominium. The warehouse is in front of La Consolacion College.

Tip: Weekdays are the best. Be there early.

see, it is a warehouse!

check the map

Books for Less Warehouse Sale
August 1 to 31, 2014 (except Sundays and holidays)
643 Mercedez Ave. Bgy. San Miguel Pasig City
For inquiries call 633-8554 or (0917) 630-9999